Post by Islamic Revival on Oct 14, 2004 2:14:00 GMT -5
With such a full and varied life, it is impossible to summarise adequately the achievements of perhaps the most respected Sahaba, the man that was the first Khaleefah of the Muslims after the death of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam who Omar ibn al-Khattab said at the time the Bayah was being given to Abu Bakr:
“Did not the Prophet order that you lead, O Abu Bakr, the Muslims in prayer, so you are the Khaleefah of Rasoolullah. We are pledging allegiance to the best beloved person by Rasoolullah of us all.”<br>
Abu Bakr
Or in the same meeting of the Ansar and Muhajiroon Abu Ubaydah stretched forth his hand and said to Abu Bakr:
“You are the best of Al-Muhajiroon, and the only and second companion in the cave, and the Khaleefah of rasoolullah in prayer, the best of the Muslims in deen. Who else is supposed to come before you, or take care of this matter over you?”<br>
After the bayah was committed to Abu Bakr in the Mosque of Rasullullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam on the day after Abu Bakr spoke in his first Khutbah as Khaleefah and said:
“O People, I have been appointed upon you as your leader even though I am not the best amongst you, so if I do right help me, and if I do wrong correct me. Truth is a trust and lying is treason, the weak amongst you is weak before me till I take the right from him Allah willing. Any people who abandon Jihad in the way of Allah, Allah will strike them with humiliation. If indecency spread amongst any people, Allah would subject them to great tribulations. Do obey me as long as I obey Allah and His Messenger. If I ever disobeyed Allah and His Messenger, I am not entitled to your obedience to me. Get up for prayer, may Allah send His mercy upon you”.
During the lifetime of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam Abu Bakr frequently travelled with the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam when he visited the tribes to invite them to Islam and in the important function of seeking the Nussrah (support to implement Islam). The following narration highlights the key role Abu Bakr took as an expert in the lineage of the tribes and in the assessment of their suitability for protecting them and establishing the first Islamic State:
“Abu Bakr went forward and asked them: Which of the tribes are you? They said, We are the Banu Shaiban Thalibah. Then Abu Bakr told the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wasallam, May my parents be sacrificed for you, none besides them is more honourable in this tribe” Abu Bakr asked them: What is your number? They said we are 1,000 in number, and 1,000 is not a small number. What about your defence asked Abu Bakr: We always struggle and defend ourselves, for every nation is bound to keep on struggle. Then Abu Bakr asked, What about the result of the battle between you and your enemies? In response the tribal leader said: “When we fight, we are in one of our furies and the battle is enraged. We take care of the horses, used in the battle, more than our children; and prefer weapons over the milk-animals. So far as the victory is concerned, it is from Allah, sometime we gain victory, sometime they gain victory”.
This passage highlighted amongst dozens of similar passages from the trips to seek the “support” for establishing the Islamic State and the role of Abu Bakr in inviting these tribes and assessing their ability to defend a fledgling State. The same work which is crying out today for the re-establishment of that noble State. Those of strength and power in our lands need to take note of the willing sacrifice that the Aws and Khazraj were prepared to give for the establishment of Islam.
From www.ramadhan.org